Patrice Malcolm O'Neal (December 7, 1969 – November 29, 2011), usually credited as Patrice O'Neal,[2][3][4] was an American stand-up comedian, radio personality, and actor. He is widely considered by many in the industry as one of the greatest comedians of all-time.

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O'Neal was born in New York City.[5] He grew up in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.[6] His mother, Georgia, named him after Patrice Lumumba, the leader of the Congolese independence movement, and Malcolm X. He was raised by his mother and never knew his father.[7]

He was a star football player at West Roxbury High School, ending his career with 3 letters in varsity football and a state championship his senior year. He turned down a sports scholarship to Northeastern University in order to attend with the help of a public housing grant, because he preferred studying Performing Arts to playing football.[8][9]

At the age of 17, O'Neal was convicted of statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl and sentenced to 60 days in prison,[10] served during his summer break, so as not to disrupt his schooling.[11] The act, which occurred when O'Neal was still 16, would have been legal in most states, but Massachusetts lacks a close-in-age exception, and has an age of consent of 16.[11][12][13]

O'Neal began his comedy career as a result of a self-described "Calling from God" starting in Boston at an open mic held at Estelle's Bar and Grill in October 1992,[14] although he states in his biography that he "got his start In the uterus"[15] In the late 1990s, he moved to New York City, where he became a regular at the Comedy Cellar, before relocating to Los Angeles, in the hopes of finding greater fame. "I tap danced like you wouldn't believe... trying to get something," he said in a 2008 interview with Ron Bennington. "I'm telling you, if I'd have had a gun back then, I would have shot myself." His inability to achieve success on other people's terms motivated him to prioritize his own integrity first. "At the end of the day I just want to know that I was true to myself."[16] Later in his career, Patrice would walk away from successful shows like The Office, Arrested Development, Web Junk 20, and a writing position on the WWE. "I'm a professional bridge-burner," O'Neal stated in an interview.[17]

Unwilling to yield to the demands of American club owners that he change his often confrontational act, O'Neal relocated to the United Kingdom to work on his comedy there. He worked harder as an outsider and a foreigner to gain the respect of his peers. "It took about 5 months... for them to go 'Ok, this guy's not playing around,'" he told Bennington. It was also during this time that he caught the eye of British comedian Ricky Gervais, still early in his stand-up career.[16] Gervais frequently mentioned O'Neal as a favorite comic.[18][19][20] He returned to the New York area in 2002 when he got the offer to do his first half-hour special for Showtime. Later that year he joined the cast of The Colin Quinn Show and then Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. The following year, he recorded a Comedy Central Presents special.

After moving back to New York in 2002, O'Neal became a recognized radio personality as a regular guest and occasional co-host on the Opie and Anthony program. Along with Bill Burr and Robert Kelly, he filled in as co-host for comedian Jim Norton while Jim filmed Lucky Louie. From 2006–08, he hosted a call-in relationship advice show on XM Radio, which ended when the satellite network merged with rival Sirius. Initially promoted as Bitch Management, the show was titled The Black Philip Show, a reference to Dr. Phil. Dante Nero co-hosted, and a rotating cast of female comedians played third mic. The show aired until the station suspended much of its Saturday night programming when they were unable to reconcile budget concerns with the new management following the merger. O'Neal had also appeared as a guest on other radio shows such as Alex Jones along with numerous political talk shows on the Fox News channel. While in the NYC area, he performed at comedy clubs in the area, including headlining appearances at Comix Comedy Club and Caroline's. He was also popular in Montreal,[why?] making five appearances at the Just for Laughs festival, including one of the most memorable in fest history: a one-man, one-week show at Théâtre Ste. Catherine in 2008. O'Neal had also been slated to do five sold-out, one-man shows at Les Katacombes at the 2010 Just for Laughs Festival, but he was refused entry into Canada at the U.S. border and the shows were cancelled.[21]

In February 2011, Comedy Central aired his first hour-long special, Elephant in the Room. He eventually began a web series and podcast called The Patrice O'Neal Show – Coming Soon![22] showing various episodes as of May 15, 2007. He performed with a five-person group – Bryan Kennedy, Dante Nero, Vondecarlo Brown, Harris Stanton and Wil Sylvince – touching on many fictional scenarios. The show was produced by For Your Imagination and can be found on O'Neal's website. He guest-starred in another For Your Imagination-produced show, called Break a Leg, playing Adult-Sized Gary Coleman. O'Neal voiced Jeffron James in Grand Theft Auto IV, on an in-game radio show, Fizz!.

On September 19, 2011, O'Neal was one of the many roasters at the Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen. This would be his final television appearance before his death two months later. A little more than halfway through the show in a small interview, leading up to the commercial break, O'Neal says "this should be my last show ever." His final recorded interview was with Jay Mohr on his "Mohr Stories" Podcast No. 17, uploaded October 27, 2011, shortly after news of his stroke. Shortly after O'Neal's death, BSeen Media announced the release of his first album, Mr. P, to be released February 7, 2012. It was recorded at the D.C. Improv.[23] Although announced after his death, the album had been completed before his illness, with the comedian's full involvement.[24]

On November 6, 2012, Better Than You, a 20-minute "digital single" of previously unreleased material was released on O'Neal's website and via iTunes.[25]

On October 19, 2011, O'Neal reported being unable to move his legs. He was rushed to Jersey City Medical Center, and later Englewood Hospital, where doctors performed surgery to remove a blood clot. He lost his ability to speak, and later his ability to move, for a time communicating by eye movements before losing that ability as well. Doctors warned that if he survived, he would likely remain permanently paralyzed and unable to speak.[7]

Initially, the family made efforts to keep news of O'Neal's illness quiet. On October 26, 2011, it was announced to the public on The Opie and Anthony Show that O'Neal had suffered a stroke a week earlier.[26][27] At 7:00 am on November 29, 2011, he died from complications from his stroke.[28] O'Neal was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes while in his early twenties, and also struggled with weight issues for years.[29][30] He is survived by his longtime partner (whom he often referred to as his wife) Vondecarlo Brown, mother Georgia, stepdaughter Aymilyon, and sister Zinder.[6]

Many comics reacted via Twitter.[33] "The best comedian in the world has died," proclaimed Norm Macdonald. Dave Attell tweeted "Patrice O. was and is one of the best comics I have ever had the pleasure to watch perform." Ricky Gervais, a long time vocal fan of O'Neal's, said "One of my favourite stand up comedians. So sad. RIP." Denis Leary called him "one of the funniest men who ever walked this earth" and Bill Burr concurred, saying he was "the most purely funny human being I've ever met. " Burr held back tears on an episode of Conan as he mentioned a benefit concert for O'Neal's family. Doug Stanhope remembered O'Neal as "one of the best ever. Inspiring every time I heard him on anything." Dozens of other comedians echoed similar sentiments on Twitter.[34][35] Comedian Jon Stewart paid his respects through his "Moment of Zen" bit, in his show The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, stating: "Sad News. Once again in comedy we lose somebody, who's too funny, too soon." This statement was followed by a clip of O'Neal's stand-up special Elephant in the Room.[36]

Many entertainers outside of the comedy community reacted as well. Director Kevin Smith said, "I shared some air & some air time with the man on O&A & he was always funny & thoughtful. He WILL be missed." Rapper Talib Kweli said "Super funny and I had the pleasure of meeting the man. We will miss you." The Roots drummer Questlove mourned "so grateful I got to see Patrice O'Neal do his last NYC gig. Man, this is so devastating. He truly was one of my favorite comics." Nick Cannon called him "An amazing comedian and an even better person."[34] Actor Charlie Sheen paid his respects through his blog, saying: "The entertainment world as well as the world at large lost a brilliant man today. Patrice had that rare 'light' around him and inside of him. I only knew him for the few days leading up the Roast. Yet I will forever be inspired by his nobility, his grace and his epic talent. My tears today are for the tremendous loss to his true friends and loving family."[37]

Comedy Central aired O'Neal's special Elephant in the Room on November 30 in the wake of his death.[38]

Rolling Stone ran a four-page article about O'Neal's career and death in the February 16, 2012, issue.[7] In June 2012, Jim Norton dedicated his 1-hour EPIX comedy special Please Be Offended to O'Neal. On September 23, 2012, during the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards, O'Neal was remembered during the "In Memoriam" tribute.[39]

Marc Maron had featured O'Neal in Episode 95 of his podcast WTF.[41][better source needed] After O'Neal's death, Maron released a special tribute, "Patrice O'Neal Remembered," as Episode 131.5 of WTF on November 30, 2011.[42]

O'Neal's comedy has been described as conversational.[46] Except during televised appearances, he seldom performed standing up, preferring a relaxed, philosophical delivery.[47] He was a provocateur, often inciting audience members to call out, or even leave the club. "I've seen him give people money to leave," recalls Gregg "Opie" Hughes.[48] At times he would encourage people to call out to the stage in order to set up a punchline. "Ladies, how would you keep your man if you lost your vagina?," O'Neal would ask of his audience. When the women would invariably reference oral and anal sex, the comedian would respond, "See, I gave you the chance to talk and you qualified yourself as a series of holes."[46] Additionally, speaking on sex he on several occasions discussed his personal kinks;[49] for instance an appreciation for urolagnia, even stating that his girlfriend noticing that his urine tasted like "birthday cake" is how he came to find out that he suffered from diabetes.[50][51]